Single surface display kite

ABSTRACT

A kite of a single sheet of material extending from a straight leading edge rearwardly to a trailing edge has a pair of outermost struts, one at each end of the leading edge, which extend at an inward angle rearwardly from the leading edge and a plurality of parallel interior struts spaced between the outer struts in a narrow band extending perpendicular to and rearwardly from the leading edge. A plurality of interior keels, one extending downwardly from each of the interior struts to a lower tip thereof, have leading edges substantially perpendicular to the leading edges of the sheet of material. Two outermost keels, one extending downwardly from each outermost strut, have leading edges at a rearward angle from a perpendicular to the leading edge of the sheet of material, the inward and rearward angles being coordinated to reduce roll and likelihood of collapse of the kite during flight. Bridle lines extend from each of the keel tips to a single point of connection such that, with the bridle lines fully extended from the single point of connection, the leading edge of the kite takes the form of a bow.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to kites, and more particularlyconcerns kites ranging from approximately four to approximately sixtyfeet or more in width.

Improved kites in the range of up to sixty feet in width were disclosedin my U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,059 which is herein incorporated by reference.Those kites, beginning with a width of approximately seven feet or more,fly quite stably under most meteorological conditions. However, kites inthe range of approximately four to seven feet in width made according tothe same teachings tend to roll to an undesirable degree. Furthermore,even the larger kites ranging from approximately fifteen to sixty feetin width have a tendency to roll, though within far more tolerablelimits.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide animproved stable design for kites in the range of approximately four tosixty feet or in width.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a large kitehaving the benefits of my earlier kite with reduced rollcharacteristics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As with my earlier kite, the leading edge of a sheet of material isprovided with a narrow lifting surface made up of multiple keels withsubstantially parallel rigid supports attached to this sheet of materialin a side by side configuration and spanning the entire leading edge.Bridle lines of equal length are attached between every two adjacentkeels at their forward lower corners to form a cell between the keels. Asecond set of bridle lines of equal length are attached at one end tothe centers of the first set of bridle lines and joined at the oppositeend of the bridle lines to form a union. A single flying line isattached to the union. Each keel includes a rigid support or strut alongits length and a leading edge substantially perpendicular to its length.However, unlike my earlier kite, the outside two keels and struts aresubstantially parallel to the other keels and struts and have leadingedges which are not substantially perpendicular to their length but areangled to a point as much as 1/4 to 1/2 the length of the keelrearwardly of the leading edge of the kite. It has been found that thereduction of the taper effects a corresponding reduction in roll of thekite, but also results in a corresponding likelihood of the kite foldingin light crosswinds, particularly for kites of approximately seven feetor less in width. However, it has also been found that angling theleading edges of the external keels prevents the kite from folding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreading the following detailed description and upon reference to thedrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a rectangular embodiment of the kiteillustrating the leading edge in comparison to the total surface area ofthe improved kite and the placement of the keels and rigid supports;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the kite of FIG. 1illustrating the relationship between the outermost keels and theinterior keels of the improved kite; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the improved kite of FIG. 1 in flight.

While the invention will be described in connection with a preferredembodiment, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit theinvention to that embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to coverall alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be includedwithin the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a kite consisting of one large rectangular sheet ofmaterial 10 such as plastic, nylon, or the like, extending from aleading edge 12 to a trailing edge 14 with a narrow band 16 along theleading edge 12 which provides most of the lift for the kite. As seenmore clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the leading edge 12 includes the band 16,interior keels 18 and spars 20 and outermost keels 22 and spars 24. Asshown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the interior keels 18 have a leading edgesubstantially perpendicular to the spars 20 while the outermost keels 22have a leading edge that angles to a point approximately 1/4 to 1/2 thelength of the spars 24 toward the trailing edge 14 of the kite. FIG. 3also illustrates the bridle lines and their place of attachment on thelower forward tips 26 and 28 of the interior and outermost keels 18 and22, respectively. A first set of bridle lines 30, all the same length,are attached between adjacent keels, including the interior andoutermost keels 18 and 22. Another set of bridle lines 32, all the samelength, are attached approximately to the centers of the first set ofbridle lines 30. The interior spars 20 have a parallel relation to eachother and the outermost spars 24 are at least slightly farther apart atthe leading edge 12 of the kite to provide some taper inwardly towardthe trailing edge 14 of the kite. The second set of bridle lines 32 aretypically extended to a length one and one half times the width of theleading edge 12 and are joined at a single union 34 as seen in FIG. 3.The taper of the outermost keels 22 may be minimized for kitesapproximately four to seven feet in width so that the interior andoutermost keels 18 and 22 approach parallel and may be increased forlarger kites of up to approximately sixty feet in width. The distancethat the tips of the outermost keels 22 are displaced toward thetrailing edge 14 of the kite will be increased as the taper is reducedto minimize roll without allowing the kite to collapse.

Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance withthe invention, an improved single surface display kite that fullysatisfies the objects, aims and advantages set forth above. While theinvention has been described in conjunction with specific embodimentsthereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications andvariations will be apparent to those skilled in the art and in light ofthe foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace allsuch alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within thespirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A kite comprising:a sheet of material extendingfrom a straight leading edge rearwardly to a trailing edge; a pair ofoutermost struts, one at each end of said leading edge, extending at aninward angle rearwardly from said leading edge; a plurality of parallelinterior struts spaced between said outermost struts in a narrow bandextending perpendicular to and rearwardly from said leading edge; aplurality of keels, one extending downwardly from each of said struts toa lower tip thereof, interior ones of said keels having leading edgessubstantially perpendicular to said leading edge of said sheet ofmaterial and outermost ones of said keels having leading edges at arearward angle from a perpendicular to said leading edge of said sheetof material, said inward and rearward angles being coordinated to reduceroll and likelihood of collapse of the kite during flight; and aplurality of bridle lines of substantially equal length, one extendingfrom each of said keel tips to a single point of connection of saidlines.
 2. A kite according to claim 1, said sheet of material beingrectangular.
 3. A kite according to claim 2, said leading and trailingedges being spaced by a distance approximately 1.0 to 3.0 times thedistance between said outermost of said struts.
 4. A kite according toclaim 2, said leading and trailing edges being spaced by a distanceapproximately 1.5 times the distance between said outermost of saidstruts.
 5. A kite according to claim 1, said interior keels being rightisosceles triangles.
 6. A kite comprising:a sheet of material extendingfrom a straight leading edge rearwardly to a trailing edge; a pair ofoutermost struts, one at each end of said leading edge, extending at aninward angle rearwardly from said leading edge; a plurality of parallelinterior struts spaced between said outermost struts in a narrow bandextending perpendicular to and rearwardly from said leading edge; aplurality of keels, one extending downwardly from each of said struts toa lower tip thereof, interior ones of said keels having leading edgessubstantially perpendicular to said leading edge of said sheet ofmaterial and outermost ones of said keels having leading edges at arearward angle from a perpendicular to said leading edge of said sheetof material, said inward and rearward angles being coordinated to reduceroll and likelihood of collapse of the kite during flight; and a firstplurality of bridle lines of substantially equal length, one connectingadjacent pairs of said keel tips including those of said outermostkeels, and a second plurality of bridle lines of substantially equallength, each extending from the midpoint of one of said first pluralityof bridle lines to a single point of connection.
 7. A kite according toclaim 6, said second plurality of bridle lines being approximately 11/2times the distance between said outermost struts.
 8. A kite according toclaim 6, said interior keels being right isosceles triangles.
 9. A kiteaccording to claim 6, said trailing edge being spaced from said leadingedge by a distance approximately 1 to 3 times the distance between saidoutermost keels.
 10. A kite according to claim 6, said trailing edgebeing spaced from said leading edge by a distance approximately 1 to 5times the distance between said outermost keels.
 11. A kite comprising:asheet of material extending from a straight leading edge rearwardly to atrailing edge; a pair of outermost struts, one at each end of saidleading edge, extending at an inward angle rearwardly from said leadingedge; a plurality of parallel interior struts spaced between saidoutermost struts in a narrow band extending perpendicular to andrearwardly from said leading edge; a plurality of keels, one extendingdownwardly from each of said struts to a lower tip thereof, interiorones of said keels having leading edges substantially perpendicular tosaid leading edge of said sheet of material and outermost ones of saidkeels having leading edges at a rearward angle from a perpendicular tosaid leading edge of said sheet of material, said inward and rearwardangles being coordinated to reduce roll and likelihood of collapse ofthe kite during flight; and bridle means extending from each of saidkeel tips to a single point of connection such that, with said bridlemeans fully extended from said single point of connection, said leadingedge takes the form of a bow.